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New England Foundation For The Arts Inc

Annual Giving
$4.4M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.1M
Decision Time
3mo
Success Rate
8%

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4,400,000
  • Success Rate: 6-10% (varies by program; National Dance Project ~6.5%, National Theater Project ~10%)
  • Decision Time: 6-8 weeks to 6 months (varies by program)
  • Grant Range: $500 - $130,000
  • Geographic Focus: New England (regional programs), National (NDP, NTP), International (artists)

Contact Details

Address: 321 Harrison Ave, Suite 420, Boston, MA 02118
Phone: 617-951-0010
Fax: 617-951-0016
Email: info@nefa.org
Website: www.nefa.org
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Overview

Founded in 1976, the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) is one of six United States Regional Arts Organizations established with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. With total assets of $30.4 million and annual revenue of $19.1 million (2024), NEFA awards approximately $4.4 million in grants annually. As a social impact organization, NEFA builds, sustains, and fights for arts and culture through grantmaking, partnerships, and advocacy in New England, nationally, and beyond. The organization works closely with the NEA and state arts agencies across Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Vermont. In 2024, NEFA unveiled a bold 2025-2030 Strategic Plan positioning itself as a social impact organization committed to fostering equity, creativity, and resilience as it approaches its 50th anniversary.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

National Dance Project (NDP) Production Grant: $100,000 total package per project

  • $45,000 for creation of new dance project
  • $10,000 in unrestricted general operating support
  • $10,000 for Production Residencies and/or Community Engagement
  • $35,000 in additional tour support
  • Supports professional choreographers/companies for creation and U.S. touring of new dance projects
  • Application method: Annual deadline (March 16, 2026 will be the final cycle after 30 years)

National Theater Project (NTP) Creation & Touring Grant: $80,000 - $130,000 (typically $110,000)

  • Approximately 10 grants awarded annually
  • Supports artist-led, ensemble, devised theater projects for creation and U.S. touring
  • Application method: Annual deadline (March 3, 2025 final deadline for current format)

New England States Touring (NEST) Grant: $500 - $10,000

  • Provides up to 60% of artist fee (maximum $10,000)
  • Applications with artist fees under $2,000 may request full artist fee
  • Funds presentation of regional, national, and international artists by New England nonprofits
  • Application method: Rolling deadlines (FY26: December 1, 2025 and April 1, 2026)

Public Art Learning Fund (PALF): $500 - $3,000

  • Supports professional development for New England public artists
  • 70 grants awarded in FY25 totaling $151,200
  • Application method: Annual deadline (October)

Public Art for Spatial Justice (PASJ): Grant amounts vary

  • Supports public art projects addressing spatial justice issues
  • Application method: Annual deadline (December)

Collective Imagination for Spatial Justice (CISJ): Grant amounts vary

  • Multi-year program supporting collaborative public art initiatives

New England Dance Fund: Grant amounts vary

  • Application method: Annual deadline (September)

Cultural Sustainability: Grant amounts vary

  • For small New England arts organizations of color with annual operating expenses under $500,000

Priority Areas

  • Dance (creation, touring, professional development)
  • Theater (ensemble, devised, artist-led projects)
  • Public art (learning, spatial justice, community engagement)
  • Artist touring and presentation across New England
  • Cultural equity and organizations of color
  • Artist professional development
  • Community engagement through the arts
  • Spatial justice and equitable place-making

What They Don't Fund

NEST Program Exclusions:

  • Activities/programs taking place exclusively in schools during class time
  • Events not open to the public
  • Fundraisers
  • Events outside the six New England states
  • Self-produced presentations by artists/ensembles
  • Guest artist performances as part of a producing organization's own performance

General Exclusions:

  • Projects outside their geographic focus (varies by program)
  • Individual artists without New England residency (for regional programs)
  • Organizations not meeting eligibility criteria for specific programs
  • Capital campaigns or building projects
  • General endowment support

Governance and Leadership

Executive Director: Harold Steward (assumed role July 2023) Harold Steward oversees the agency's strategic vision, governance, and overall organizational excellence. On NEFA's 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, Steward stated: "NEFA has always been more than a funder. This plan affirms our role as a social impact organization—accountable to the communities we serve and committed to fostering equity, creativity, and resilience. As we approach our 50th anniversary, we are called to amplify the transformative power of the arts as essential to a thriving society."

On arts funding support, Steward emphasized: "In a time of growing uncertainty for arts funding, this record number of awards is a powerful statement of NEFA's continued commitment to our artists as civic leaders and cultural workers in our communities. We are proud to help artists expand their practices and deepen their impact through learning and connection. Their work is essential, now more than ever before."

Previous Executive Director: Cathy Edwards (January 2015 - June 2022) Edwards emphasized NEFA's distinctive approach: "NEFA stands out by developing funding and advocacy platforms that provide artists with resources to create, and cultural organizations with resources to bring artistic experiences to the public."

Board of Directors:

  • John Henry (Chair) - MarlinSpike
  • Carrie Zaslow (Vice Chair) - Providence Revolving Fund
  • Frank Mitchell (Treasurer) - Cultural Organizer
  • Iván Espinoza-Madrigal (Secretary) - Lawyers for Civil Rights
  • Angie Lane - Red River Theatres Inc.
  • Elizabeth Shapiro - CT Office of the Arts
  • Chip Newell - NewHeight Group
  • Pamela Tatge - Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival
  • Dawn Gibson-Brehon - Purchase College, SUNY
  • Adele Bauman - New Hampshire State Council on the Arts

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

NEFA launched a new grants application and reporting portal in 2025, allowing applicants to apply online, check decision status, and submit reports. Each grant program has specific guidelines, eligibility requirements, and application forms available on the NEFA website.

Application Methods by Program:

  • NDP & NTP: Fixed annual deadlines with structured review processes
  • NEST: Rolling basis with quarterly deadlines
  • Public Art programs: Fixed annual deadlines
  • Other programs: Varies by initiative

NEFA offers information sessions, office hours, and webinars for most grant programs. Applicants are encouraged to attend these sessions and contact program staff with questions before applying.

Decision Timeline

NEST Grants: 6-8 weeks after deadline
National Theater Project: Multi-stage process

  • December: First round decisions
  • January: Semi-finalists notified
  • End of May: Final decisions

National Dance Project: Multi-stage review

  • Applications reviewed by advisors
  • Finalists selected and notified
  • Final awards announced approximately 4-6 months after deadline
  • Panel feedback provided October-February following decision

Public Art Learning Fund: Early November (for September deadline)
Public Art for Spatial Justice: Late February (for December deadline)

All applicants receive email notification of decisions.

Success Rates

National Dance Project: Approximately 6.5% success rate

  • 2025: 20 awards from 306 applications
  • 2024: 20 awards from 219 applications
  • 65% of 2025 awardees were first-time recipients

National Theater Project: Approximately 10% success rate

  • 10 grants awarded annually from approximately 100 applications

Public Art Learning Fund: More competitive than in past years

  • 70 grants awarded in FY25 (record number)
  • 31 first-time grantees

Regional programs like NEST may have different success rates and are generally less competitive than national programs.

Reapplication Policy

NEFA encourages unsuccessful applicants to reapply in future cycles. The organization recognizes that many successful grantees have submitted applications multiple times before receiving awards. NEFA emphasizes that the journey to an NDP Production Grant, for example, has sometimes required re-submitting projects over multiple cycles, and they work deeply with artists/companies to support them through the process.

Panel Feedback: NEFA provides panel feedback to all unsuccessful applicants and finalists across most programs. This feedback is designed to strengthen grant writing skills and work sample selections for future funding opportunities. NEFA staff believe that offering constructive feedback is essential and are intentional about the care taken to prepare and deliver this information. Feedback conversations typically occur 2-5 months after decisions are announced.

Application Success Factors

NEFA's Own Advice

From NEFA's official application guidance resources:

Understand All Available Resources: Review guidelines, FAQs, information sessions, office hours, and past grant recipient directories. Don't hesitate to contact funders with questions or clarifications.

Read the Guidelines Thoroughly: Review funding criteria, eligibility, priorities, and goals at the beginning of each grant cycle, as changes are made regularly to every program.

Ensure Alignment: Make sure the funding program aligns with your organization's goals and objectives. Research recent NEFA grantees to understand the scale, scope, and genre of work supported.

Answer Questions Precisely: Review panelists look for specific answers to the questions asked. Give exactly the information requested with as much detail as space allows. Strong applications meet funding criteria to the fullest extent possible and demonstrate strong collaboration between all partners.

Be Specific and Detailed: Specificity in responses strengthens applications. Include concrete examples, clear metrics, and tangible outcomes.

Technical Excellence: Carefully review requirements around eligibility, supporting materials, and formats. Ensure application materials meet specifications for length and format of narratives, supporting materials, and work samples. Carefully proofread or have someone review your application—typos and errors hinder reviewers' understanding. Double-check all math and numerical fields.

Curate Work Samples Carefully: Tailor work samples to highlight the most relevant and impactful examples for each specific grant program. Fewer, well-chosen samples can be more effective than submitting the maximum number allowed. Follow specified lengths and formats outlined in program guidelines.

Timeline and Preparation: Create an application timeline allowing ample time to understand guidelines, draft and revise your application, and gather supporting materials. Begin your application at least one week before the deadline. Note the deadline time and time zone. Save your application frequently in the NEFA grants portal, and build your application in a separate Word document for backup.

Utilize Office Hours: If offered, connecting with your funder through office hours provides opportunities to ask questions, build relationships, and gain valuable insights.

Consider Post-Award Obligations: Before applying, familiarize yourself with post-award obligations such as final reports and crediting requirements. Ensure the grant is worth your effort, including requirements that come after the award.

Recent Funded Projects (2024-2025 Examples)

National Dance Project Recipients:

  • "After the Last Red Sky" by Body Watani (Minneapolis)
  • "Ramti Aave - Her Playful Arrival" by Barkha Dance Company
  • "Sermon on the Mount" by PHILADANCO! (Philadelphia)

These examples demonstrate NEFA's commitment to diverse artistic voices, cultural perspectives, and projects with strong community connections.

What Makes Applications Stand Out

Based on NEFA's documented preferences and patterns:

  • Clear demonstration of artistic excellence and innovation
  • Strong collaboration between partners (for touring/presentation grants)
  • Alignment with NEFA's equity and social impact values
  • Well-curated work samples that directly represent the proposed project
  • Detailed, specific responses that address all criteria
  • Evidence of community engagement and impact
  • Projects led by or centering underrepresented voices
  • Professional presentation with attention to detail

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Competitiveness Varies: National programs (NDP, NTP) are highly competitive with 6-10% success rates, while regional programs offer more opportunities for smaller grants
  • Panel Feedback is Available: NEFA provides thoughtful panel feedback to unsuccessful applicants—use this resource to strengthen future applications
  • Reapplication is Encouraged: Many successful grantees applied multiple times before receiving awards; persistence and incorporation of feedback are valued
  • Geographic Requirements Matter: Carefully review eligibility for each program—some require New England residency/location, others are national
  • Relationship Building Pays Off: Attend information sessions, office hours, and webinars; NEFA staff are accessible and want to help you succeed
  • Equity and Social Impact are Central: NEFA's 2025-2030 Strategic Plan positions them as a social impact organization; applications demonstrating commitment to equity, community engagement, and social relevance align with their mission
  • Work Samples are Critical: For arts programs, carefully curate work samples that directly represent your proposed project and artistic excellence—quality over quantity

References

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